Selected quad for the lemma: spirit_n
Text snippets containing the quad
|
ID |
Title |
Author |
Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
STC |
Words |
Pages |
|
A50490
|
The pastors valediction, or, A farewell sermon preached at Sepulchres, London / by Mr. Matthew Meade.
|
Mead, Matthew, 1630?-1699.
|
1662
(1662)
|
Wing M1556; ESTC R9094
|
15,072
|
30
|
's a peace of Christ's bestowing Now Christ would have us here not to mistake the world's peace for his for the difference is very great for first the worlds peace is a false peace it is a counterfeit coyn it han't the currant stamp of Heaven on it but the peace that Christ gives to a Believer is true peace and perfect peace Thou wilt keep in perfect peace whose minde is stayed on thee Secondly the Worlds peace is an outward peace It is but skin deep it wets the mouth it cannot wash the heart Prov. 14.13 In laughter the heart is sorrowfull and the end of the mirth is heavinesse The worlds peace in but the shell of peace their Conscience lowers when their Conscience laughs But the peace that Christ gives is an inward and spiritual peace Psal 4.7 Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart more then in the time that their corn and their wine increased Thou hast put gladnesse in my heart Peace is that gladnesse other peace smothes the brow but this fills the breast as the Sinner has trouble within in the midst of all his Peace without so a Believer has Peace within in the midst of all his troubles without In the world you shall have trouble but in me you shall have Peace Thirdly the Worlds peace has only a neather Spring arising out of the Creature out of worldly comforts therefore it must needs be unclean for an unclean Fountain cannot bring forth clean water But the peace of Christians has an upper Spring it flows from the manifestation of the love of God in Christ it s from the sprinkling of Christs Blood on the Conscience it flows upon the workings of Christs Spirit upon the Soul which is first a Councellor then a Comforter Oh how pure must this peace be in a Believes Soul that flows from so pure a Spring Fourthly the Worlds peace is a peace given to Sinners it is a peace in sin and its a peace with sin as the Prophet Isaiah tells us It s a Covenant with Hell and an Agreement with Death God deliver us from that peace Again Christs peace is given to none but Believers it s their priviledge only a Stranger dont intermeddle with this Joy Prov. 14.10 The heart knoweth his own bitternesse but a Stranger doth not intermeddle with this Joy Fifthly the Worlds peace is a fading dying transitory thing it withers in the Sand The triumphing of the Wicked is but short and the Joy of the Hypocrite is but for a moment Job 20.5 Solomon does elegantly liken it to the crackling of Thornes under a Pot which is but a blaze and is gone Ecces 7.6 So is the Sinners peace it is for a Spurt and is soon gone but the peace that Christ gives to Believers is a durable and abiding peace Your Joy no man shall take from you it appears in Life in Death and after Death First it s our peace in Life grace brings forth present peace It s said of the Primitive Christians They walked in the Fear of the Lord and in the Comforts of the Holy Ghost Acts 9.31 It s a remarkable expression Psalm 19.11 In keeping thy commands there 's great reward He dont say for keeping them which respects the end of the Work but in keeping of them which look at the Work it self My Brethren Every duty done in sincerity reflects a peace in conscience as every flower carries its own sweetnesse It s possible I grant a Believer may not allwayes find and feel this peace few do some seldome find it few find it so alwayes the remains of corruption breaking forth to interrupt or temptations to hinder And Gods disertion may darken and hide it and a Believer may seem to be totally lost yet in this condition which is the worst a Child of God can be in he hath a double peace First a peace in the promises in this very Condition and what you have in Bonds and Bills you account as good as money in your Pockets Secondly he has it in the seed Light is sown for the righteous and gladnesse for the upright in heart Psal 97.11 Grace is the seed of Peace which Christ has soon in the furrows of the Soul and therefore peace shall Spring out of the furrows of the Soul indeed this seed springs up sooner in some then in others yet every Saint shall have a reaping time sooner or later Psal 126.6 He that goeth forth and weepeth bearing precious seed shall doubtlesse come again with rejoycing bringing his sheaves with him If he stayes long for the fruit he shall have a greater crop at last if he reaps not now he shall be sure to reap hereafter Psal 37.37 Mark the perfect man and behold the upright for the end of that man is peace Secondly by this peace which is the peace of a Child of God it s a peace at Death Grace will minister to us then and that ministration shall be in peace The Sinners peace leaves him when he comes to the Grave though in Life it fills him yet in Death it leaves him A Believer has a two fold spring of Peace the first is from above him the other is from within him That spring that runs with peace above him is from the bloud of Christ sprinkled on his Conscience The other that is from within him is from the sincerity of his heart in the wayes of obedience My Brethren when we lye on our Death beds and can reflect on our sincerity in all Gods wayes this will be peace at last so it was in Hezekiah Isaiah 38.3 Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which was good in thy fight There 's nothing makes a Death bed so hard and so uneasie as a life spent in the service of sin and lust and nothing makes a Death bed so pleasant as a life spent in the service of Christ Grace will bring forth Peace if not in this life yet Thirdly it will to be sure after Death if Time brings not this fruit to ripenesse yet Eternity shall Grace in Time will be Glory in Eternity Holinesse now will be Happiness then whatever it is a man sows in this world that he reaps in the next world Be not deceived God is not mocked for whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reape He that soweth to the flesh shall of the flesh reape corruption but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reape life everlasting Gal. 6.7 8. When Sin shall end in sorrow and misery Grace shall end in peace in joy in glory well done thou good and faithfull Servant enter into the joy of thy Master Mat. 15.21 Whoever shares in the grace of Christ in this world shall be sure to share with the joy of Christ in the next world and that joy is joy unspeakable and full of glory I will wynde up all in a threefold Application by way of